I think companies will end up regretting "zero tolerance" policies and will look to Pixar's placement of John Lasseter on 6-month leave of absence as the preferable way to take heat off, make a stand, and not jettison talent essential to the company's success. I look at the languishing that occurred at Disney when Walt died, and think the same result could happen at Pixar (and therefore Disney) had Lasseter been let go (making him free to develop films with other companies). Wynn also gains a level of business freedom from his departure.

The issue of abuse isn't going away soon, nor should it. But any zero-tolerance policy always invites discussion into more proportionate ways to handle problems. That discussion - and the inevitable reduction of penalties - always has too many martyrs, victims, and sacrificial lambs lost during the early emphasis on swift and certain punishments.

Consider this, too - if every man is an abuser (as some argue, but certainly not me), could men serve in any capacity whatsoever in business or government under zero-tolerance approaches? I am all for women in management, but they are not the guaranteed solution to this issue (as Michigan State University teaches us).